Safety target attachment for air rifles



April 26 1927.

J. B. MULHOLLAND ET x.

SAFETY TARGET ATTACHMENT FOR AIR RIFLES Filed March 29. 1922 awn top;

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UNITED STATES JOHN B. MULHOLLAND AND AIFRED F BQRSCHEL, 0F BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

SAFETY TARGET ATTACHMENT FOR AIR- RIFLES.

Application filed March 29, 1922. Serial No. Ed'i",663..

()ur invention relates to inq'n'ovements in safety target attachments for air rifles.

Air rifles are invariably of simple construction, light in weight, and cheap, and although not possessing: the "Force or carrying capacity oi a. regular rifle having shot projected therefrom by the force of explosion the price at which they can be purcl'iased has made them very popular with boys; but due to the carelessness with which air rifles have heretofore been handled by boys. resulting in many accidents, the sale of them has been forbidden in many places by law or city ordinances, with the result that the pleasure o't'possessing an air rifle and the prospects of acquiring marksmanship have been denied boys of the present generation in many sections of the country.

It is the purpose of our invention to pro vide an attachn'ient for an air rifle, which will enable boys to own one and at the same time assure safety against accidents, and the attachmentis one furnishing a target to shoot at, the same pleasure and the ability to acquire marksmanship will be open to boys by the use of this invention that they have possessed prior to the enactment of the TfOfblClCliIlg laws or ordinances above referred to.

A further object of our invent-ion is the provision of an attachment which may be made in various lengths, and which is so mounted on the barrel of the rifle that skill lllllSl be displayed in order to secure results in practice.

A still further object of our invention is the provision of a safety device for rifles, which may be permanently secured to air rifles at the plants of production or, if desired, may be detachably fitted to the rifles at such places, or to air rifles now in pos session of boys and the use of which is forhidden in their present condition.

A still further object of our invention is the production of a simple and inexpensive device of the kind described, which may be of any length, preferably from eight inches up, and to provide a tripod or other suitable support for the outer end of the device if of a length greater than can be conveniently supported from its point o'l attachment to t he barrel of the rifle.

lhe invention consists in. providing a.

It also consists in providing an elongated guard between the end of tho rifle barrel and the target.

It t'urther consists in providing a device at this kind having: a target equipped with duplicate parts and means to sight to one of said parts and to direct the shot from the air rifle against or through the other part at the point corresponding to that sighted on the first-mentioned part.

It further consists in the novel features of construction, and in the arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the subjoined claims.

In the drawings Fig. l is a side elevation of a repeating air rifle equipped with our invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken on line 2-2, Fig. at. looking in the direction of the arrow crossing said line.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on line 3-3, Fig. el, looking to the right.

Fig. a is a central vertical section through our improved target device or attachment and the adjacent end of the barrel of the rifle to which it is attached.

F 5 is a transverse section taken on line 5-5, Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrow crossing said line.

F 6 is a longitudinal section taken tl'irough the securing sleeve or connector whereby our improved device is fastened to the outer end of the barrel of a rifle.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of our duplicate target.

Our inventiom while particularly adapted for air rifles, may with slight modifications be used in connection with any kind of fire arm, but it will be apparent from the description to follow that when applied to other than air rifles, the device will be enlarged; at least extended in the direction of its length.

In the drawings we have shown the device in connection with a repeating air rifle having; a magazine, adapted to be filled with shot. inserted into the barrel of the rifle. When attached to a rifle of this kind the device is preferably detachably secured in order to enable the magazine to be Withdrawn from the barrel of the rifle. when emptied so that another, supplied with shot, may replace it or so that it may be refilled and conveniently reinserted into the rifle.

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hen, however, the device is applied to a single shot rifle, it may be permanently, or removably applied, as may be desired.

The rifle to which the device is shown applied in the drawings is ot the type known as a repeating air rifle having the usual trig g'cr mechanism between the stock 8 and the barrel 9 of the rille, sa id trigger mechanism co-acting with proper projecting mechanism to project a shot from the rifle, but since these parts are well understood and form nopart olour invention, they are not illustrated, except such parts thereof as may be exposed.

Inserted into the barrel oi the rifle is a shot magazine 10 having two longitudinal bores 11, 12,ll1e first of which is the shotret-aining bore and the second the shot-directing; bore, the projectingmechanism within the rifle being constructed or associated with means for drawing one shot after another "from the shot-retainin; bore into the shot-directing bore. The shot-directing bore is positioned axially within the barrel of the gun. and at the outer end of this magazine a flange or projecting portion l3 is provided, which bears against the end ol the barrel 9.

l4-designates an attaching:element or connector in the form or a cylinder or sleeve, closed at its outer end and having an open ing iii-said end at least as large in diameter as the shot-directingbore '12 with which it is alined. This sleeve is detachably securedto the end of the barrel 9, and for this purpose said barrel has projecting; pins 16 at diametrically opposite points, preferably at opposite sides, while the sleeve has longitudinal slots 17 extending inwardly from its inner edge which terminate in effect or angular portions 18. These slots and pins lorni what known as a bayonet joint and serve to permit of conveniently attaching the sleeve to 'the barrel, and also as readily removing the same therefrom. il -hen applying a sleeve of this kind to an old rille provided with a. sight projection. ator near the outer end ol the barrel, such as shown at 19, the sleeve provided interiorly with an elongated grooveQO extending from the inner end oi? the sleeve forwardly and terminating in a right angular portion 21; thus when a sleeve of this kind is employed for attachment to an air rifle having a sight projection, such as 19, the groove :20 enables the sleeve to be secured to the barrel of the rifle by alinine said groove with said sight projection, and thrusting the sleeve onto the barrel, which will cause the sight projection to strike the inner or forward end of said groove, and by turning the sleeve of the barrel sii litly, the sight projection will enter the right angular portion 21 of said groove. \Vhile this action takes place, the pins 16 will become alined with the slots 17 and enter the same during, the placii'nr ol the sleeve onto the barrel, and when turning the sleeve as dcscrihvd, said pins will enter the oltset or angular portion l8 at the inner or lt'orward ends oi? said slots and thus lock the sleeve to the rifle barrel.

Between the outer end wall of said sleeve and the flange 13 1 of said shot magazine, a llut split spring 23 is interposcd, the function oi which is to force the sleeve outward ly and retain the pins lb in the ollset unpular portions oi the slots 17. In this mannor. assurance is had that the sleeve will be held against accidental. detachment from the barrel, although readily LGITIOVllblO by exerting pressure inwardly on the sleeve, then rotating the sleeve slightly and pulling the same outwardly or for ardly.

When our improved device is detachahly secured to an air rifle at the place of production and the rille is made expressly to accommodate our attachment, the sight. projection 19 may be dispensed with, thus lllillilll flf it unnci'ressarv to provide the groove 20 with its augul: portion. in the sleeve.

e preferably provide the sleeve with a sight projertion 2 3. which may have a sight opening" ii-ltherctln'ougrh, but any other 'l'orln of sight may be subslitulml For that shown.

ll hile the sleeve ll serves as part (it our impiin'od device. it is, in its more limited sense, a means for securing the device to the barrel of the gun.

Einrrouin'ling the sleeve llisa swivel annulus 25 through which, at. diametrically op posite points, securing screws .26 are passed. These screws have pointed inner (lids adapt cd to engage the sleeve l-l, and slight depressions are preferably formed in the sleeve at dianietricaily opposite points to receive the pointed ends of said screws. The annulus has an internal diameter somewhat larger than the external diameter of the sleeve which it surrounds, and tlul'e'l'orea annular space is provided between the two which anables said annulus to be swung: horismntally on the screws :26. or pivots, as they may be termed.

2T designates a cage or guard pivolally secured at its inner or rear cud lo the annulus and havine a suitable target, to be hereinafter described, at its front and. This cage comprises an clong atei'l casting or stamping which is parti-circulai' in cross section, and a arrics of parallel wires 29 arranged and secured, as will be presently described.

The rear end of the parti-circular casting or stamping" straddles the swivel annulus E23 and has screw pivots ill) passed lherethrounh which engage said annulus at diainctricall opposite points, preferably at right angles to the screw pivots 26, and secure said annulus to the sleeve ll, thus providing for ll ll Ian slight vertical movement of the cage. To permit of this,the straddling parti-circular portion of the cage is separated from the exterior of theswivel annulus 25 by an inicrvening space. The exterior of the swivel annulus is preferably provided at diametrically opposite points with slight depressions to receive the pointed ends of the screwpivots 30. By the use of the screw-pivots 30, swivel annulus 2'25; and screw-pivots 26, a universal connection is provided between the cage and the sleeve 14.

It is apparent that when applying our improved safety target device, it may be termed, to certain types of air rifles or to firearms, the sleeve 14 maybe dispensed with and the swivel annulus 25'be pivotally secured to the barrel of the gun.

The cage 27 has a box-like structure 31 formed on or secured to the outer or front end of the parti-circulz-ir castinp; or stamping 28, which casting or stamping, may, in its broader sense, be referred to a frame. Connecting opposite edges of the frame in proximity to the outer end of the sleeve 14 is a band 32. to which the rear-ends of the guard wires 29 are secured, the for\ *a rd ends of said wires being secured to the box-like structure 31.. These wires which are spaced in close relation and are preferably parallel, serve with the parti-circular frame 28 to form a. complete enclosure or enclosed pasthrough which the shot from the air rifles are projected. It is of course under stood that the upper portion of the frame may be enclosed by means other than the parallel wires referred to, and while we consider it an advantage to have the upper portion of the cage formed of open-work material or provided with spaces to enable the interior of the cage to be seen, this is not absolutely necessary. e, however, have found that by employing slender wires to close the upper portion of the cage, a lighter construction is provided and an effective guard furnished.

The box-like structure 31 is preferably cylindrical transversely but may be other wise shaped, and its rear wall 33 has an opening 34 therein, which may be of any desired size. The cylindrical wall of said box-like structure has a slot 36 in line with the front surface of the rear wall "of said structure through which a target 37 is inserted. Said target is elongated. as shown in Fig. 7, and approximately one-half thereof extends outwardly above the bOXdllie structure. or what may be termed target :asinn', while the other half extends into said using, each half having a picture, s i 'mmetrical figure, or any other matter printed, embossed or otherwise applied thereto which will serve a target and which may have a determining point or spot, or vital region to be shot at; the picture symmetrical fig ure, or other matter printed or otherwise applied to the lower half of the target bemg exposed through the opening 3% in the rear wall of the target casing so that a shot projected from the rifle will carry through the cage or guard 28 and pass through said opening at so as to strike or penetrate the target, depending on the material of which the target is made.

It is to be noted that adjacent the region of the trigger mechanism of the rifle the usual sight 38 is provided, and in a lining at. the target, this sight is used in connection with the sight 23 on the sleeve 1% applied to the outer end of the rifle barrel, these two sights being used to sight a point on the upper exposed half of the target. 37. hen these two sights are in direct alinement with a certain point on said upper half of the target the shot projected from the rifle will strike or penetrate. as the case may be, the corresponding point. on the lower half.

Forward of the target 37, the bottom of the target casing: is provided with a. forwardly inclined portion 39, which leads to an opening 10 in said bottom, so that when paper, cardboard, or any other material capable of being: penetrated by a shot is used as the target, the shot will pass through. the target and strike the front wall of the target casing. The shot after having lost its force by contact with said wall, will gravitate through the opening all) or strike the inclined portion of the bottom of said casing and roll out through said opening.

We have provided. a hell or other audible signal ll on the front wall of the target casing, and this signal may be sufficiently small so that it will be necessary to penetrate the target at the vital or determining point, or in close proximity thereto, in order to give the signal. Should the shot strike the target and penetrate at the outer regions of the same, the shot would pass the signal andstrike the front wall of the target casing, which would merely create a dull sound capable of being readily distinguished from the ringing sound of the bell.

The trrget 37 can be constructed of cheap material and both sides thereof used. 011 one of them may be printed, for instance a picture of a man, and the vital spot thereon could be the head or a point indicating the location of the heart, either one might be away from the exact center of the target or, more particularly, either half of the target. A second may have the picture of an animal whose head may he at a low point of the target and indicate the vital point of this picture to be shot at. A third may havea circular spot surrounded by concentric gradually enlarged circles and the circular spot may be disposed at the exact center of the target. This change in posit-ion may be carried out indefinitely, and for this reason the flexible connection of the target device to the barrel of the air rifle is a vital feature of our invention. As a means to provide this flexibility, we have adopted the universal connection hcreinbefore referred to, which will enable the user of the rifle to position the target with respect to the sights 23 and 88 so that the exercise of skill is necessary to determine 1narksinanship, and while the target is positioned with respect to the sights rather than the rifle being positioned with respect to the target, the results to determine marksmanship are substantially the same in both cases. Where our improved target device is made of considerable length, skill will be the vital factor in determining marksmanship.

For the purpose of manipulating our improved target device to position the target with respect to the sights s3 and 38, we

provide a handle 42 which is fastened to the frame 28 of the cage and extends rearwardly, the rear end thereof being provided with a loop 43 so that a finger can be convcnient-ly placed through it and the device swung upwardly or downwardly, or laterally in either direction, or at any angle desired to position the target with respect to the sights 23 and 38. Pictures or other objects may be printed on both sides of the target so that when one side is shot at, the target may be reversed, and when made of paper or other inexpensive material, the cost of owning and operating an air rifle equipped with our invention will be comparatively small.

in air ritle equipped as described will safeguard the public against injury, while providing an interesting pastime for boys which, in addition thereto, will, enable them to acquire ability toward marksmanship which may be used to advantage in later years.

here the target device is of considerable length, the outer end thereof may be supported in any suitable manner, but we preferably provide'a tripod 4A, the upper end of which may be detachably secured to the target casing, or otherwise. In the construction shown, an internally threaded socket if) is provided in the bottom of the target casing and the tripod provided with a threaded reduced upper end 46, which forms ashoulder and which is threaded into said socket so that the shoulder is engaged by the under side of the bottom of the target casing. hen a tripod is used, or the front end of the target device is otherwise supported, adjustmentis effected by positioning the rifle with respect to the target, which more closely approaches the manner of ordinarily aiming at a target or object located at a distance and disconnected from rea ers the rifle, this being allowed, due to the universal connection between the target device and the rifle; but if desired, said device may be manipulated by the use of the handle 42. It is, however, believed that greater pleasure and more accurate marksmanship can be acquired by merely adjusting the rille to the target while permitting the rear end of the target device to adjust itself to the changing position of the front end of the barrel.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is 1. The combination with a rifle, of a sleeve detachably secured to the outer end of the barrel of said ritle, an annulus surrounding said sleeve and pivotally secured thereto, an elongated frame pivotally securcdto said annulus and having its pivots at rightanglcs to the pivotsof said annulus, and means for supporting a target at the outer end of said frame.

2. The oon'ibination with a rille, of a sleeve secured to the outer end of the barrel of said rifle by means of a bayonet joint, an annulus surroundingsaid sleeve and having an internal diameter somewhat greater than the external diameter of said sleeve and being swiveled thereon, an elongated target support swiveled to said annulus at an angle to the swiveled connection of said annulus to said sleeve, a target at the outer end of said target support, and means for stopping the shot after penetrating said target.

The combination with a repeating ritle having a shot magazine therein, of a sleeve detachably secured to the outer end of the barrel of said rifle and having its outer end closed and provided with a small axial opening, a target device universally connected to said sleeve and having a target casing at its front end, and a target reinovably entered in said casin 4. The combination with an air rifle haw ing the usual sights at the front and rear of the barrel thereof, of a sleeve provided with an internal longitudinal groove extending forwardly from its rear end and terminating at its front end in an angular portion adapted to receive the si ht at the front end of the rifle barrel, and a target device flexibly connected to said sleeve.

5. The combination of a rifle having a shot magazine therein provided with a flange at its outer end adapted to bear against the outer end of the barrel of said rifle, a sleeve secured to the outer end of said barrel by a universal joint and having its outer end closed and provided with an opening alined with the shot-directing bore of said magazine, a spring interposed be tween the outer end of said sleeve and the flange of said magazine, and a target device connected to said sleeve.

till

6. The combination with an air rifle hav ing a sight at the inner end of its barrel, of a sleeve detachably secured to the outer end of said barrel and having a sight projecting therefrom adapted for cooperation with said first-mentioned sight, at target de vice having a target support and being universally connected to said sleeve, and a target having duplicate target parts, one of which is to be sighted at through the medium of the sights on said barrel and sleeve and the other to be shot at.

7. A target device to be attached to the front end of the barrel of a ride comprising an elongated frame of parti-circular formation in cross section and having a band connecting opposite edges of said p-iu'ti-circular portion near the point of connection of said frame to said rifle, said frame having a box-like structure at its front end, Wires connecting the rear wall of said boxlike structure with said band, and a target having a shooting portion in said boxlike structure and a sighting portion extending from said box-like structure.

8. The combination with a rifle, of a taret device swiveled to the front end of the arrel of said rifle and having a box-like structure at its front end provided with an opening in its rear wall, a slot in its upper wall and an inclined thickened portion on its bottom, said bottom having an opening in advance of said inclined thickened portion, a signal in a position in advance of the opening in said rear wall, and a target inserted through the slot in the upper wall of said box-like structure and having a portion to be shot at exposed through the opening in said rear wall and a portion extending outwardly from said box-like structure to be sighted at.

9. The combination with a rifle, of a target device universally connected to said rifle and having a target at its front end and a handle extending rearwardly from its rear end to permit of adjusting said target device for the purpose of sighting the de sired point on the target. 7

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures JOHN B. MULHOLLAND. ALFRED F. BORSCHEL, 

